The sooner the gap between the chroniclers of reality and the dream merchants is narrowed the better it will be for Hindi cinema. Else, we viewers will continue to be subjected to films like Anil Sharma's "Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyon".

Sharma obviously set out to on a mission to bash Pakistan but changed middle track when the subcontinent started speaking the language of peace.

The fate of "Raincoat" and "Ab Tumhare Hawale Watan Saathiyon" at the box-office will play a crucial role in how Hindi cinema is shaped in 2005. As things stand, we may be once again looking towards Yash Chopra to save the industry from its financial rut.